My yellow naped amazon is a maniac! LUNGES at me?

Question

Ok I have a 6 year old YNA, It lunges at me, Bites me, draws blood, I have been working on stick training but it attacks the stick! It shows display and fans its tail. This bird is a rescue and I have no idea of its past. It is also teratorial of the cage. Some one give me a hint on how to handle this bird. I dont want to use water guns as I have a feeling it has been abused in the past and I also get the feeling that it was in a house with children as well. I was told not to use gloves but that is the only way I feel comfortable touching this bird. Should I disreguard that advice or what?

Answer 1

I would go ahead and use gloves if it's that aggressive, and when it bites, blow lightly on it's head, tap its beak (not too hard, and try not to hit it) and say NO in a loud, firm voice. I hope this helps!
Also try balling your hand into a fist, say "No biting" and if it bites DO NOT pull your hand away, or it will know it works. Do not say OUCH, OWW etc. because it wants a reaction. The bird might want some privacy when you want to play though.

Answer 2

How long have you had the YNA? Is it male or female? These are some pretty important factors to consider as well. If it is in fact a male...well...it's mating season. Yellow Napes are part of the "Hot 3" in the Amazon world and are known to get very aggressive during mating season.

If it's territorial of it's cage, try stick training it in a neutral area. Buy a T-stand and put him on there where there are no other distractions. Also, if you are having a hard time getting him out of the cage and handling him, towel him. The vet recommended I do this when my Double Yellow Head was being very cage territorial.

Also, is there a mirror in the cage? My DYH was territorial, spending a lot of time in front of his mirror, even moving his food from other bowls to the bowl in front of his mirror to eat. Once I took the mirror out, his aggressiveness calmed down a lot.

Since this bird is a rescue, I'm sure it has many more issues than just it being mating season, but maybe this will help.

Also, I would try toweling before I would go with the gloves. If he's been mishandled with gloves before, it could make the behavior worse.

Answer 3

From its behaviour I recon it has had a traumatic time previous to you. It may not have been abused, but it does not trust people by the sound of it. You need it to trust you. It's cage is it's only safe place and you need to respect that. Just like when you were little, you probably hid under the bed or under the sheets when you were scared. Your bird is just protecting itself.

Try to avoid gloves and show no fear. Gloves can be scary for birds. If it bites let it and then tell it "No" like you would a little kid. It will soon learn that this is inappropriate behaviour. try not to grab the bird either. This is traumatic and most birds don't like being touched on the back as this is where predators attack from.

The cage is it's safe place so try not to put your hands in there too much. Try to entice it out of it's cage with a favourite toy or treat. It won't take it out of your hand at first, just work up to that. Also when watching your bird, don't put your face too close. It has nowhere to hide in its cage and you just appear to be a big scary thing that could hurt it. Keep a comfortable distance. Remember that you have your personal space? So does the bird.

Throw the stick away! Small long objects can be seen as threats sometimes. Would you like something pointing at you? Maybe it is not comfortable with the stick, maybe a stick is part of it's traumatic experience before you. Don't use one finger for it either if this is the case. Use your hand, palm down and open so that it is a flat platform for it to stand on. Your fingers cannot curl up and be a threat if they are in this position.

Give your bird time and lots of positive attention. Reward it often to get it to trust you. Talk to it soothingly and talk to it often. Learn what it's body language can tell you so you can tell when it is feeling threatened, happy, sad or when it is going to bite.

Everything at this point is on the birds terms. It will warm to you gradually in its own time and cannot be rushed.

Answer 4

I agree with kramerlorilynn2001. Large parrots are a whole different ball-game compared to their smaler cousins and many people do not realise what they are getting themselves into when they purchase or adopt a parrot. Most people cannot deal with these changes and think they parrot has gone crazy and this give them up for sale or adoption.
One of the most difficult parrots to handle are the Amazons. They are gifted talkers but they have major mood-swings brought on by hormonal changes (sexual maturity and mating season) and they can be feathered Chucky dolls. He will have a Dr Jekyll phase and then his Mr Hyde days. Almost all Amazons do, (especially male ones).
Never never punish your bird, (even with a water spray). An Amazon is clever enough to resent you for it and hold a grudge. The Amazon views the cage as his domain so you put your hand in at your own risk. You NEED to get books on Amazons and do your research because there is far too much to tell you at this point.
You need to understand Amazon body language, (for example flashing irises, threat displays etc) and learn when not to handle him.There are actually times when it is bes tto just leave him in his cage and just inteact with him through the bars.
Your current problem actually stems from the fact that you are not yet well-informed enough to deal with him. The sooner you know, the better. They may be lots of work for the uninitiated but in time to come, with lots of patience, it will be a valued family member, IF you've got the mettle to stick with it.
Good luck!!

Answer 5

So, sorry to hear of you troubles but if you can find out if original owners where male or female that would be a start in help. When I purchase a Nine year old amazon. It took me Two months to gain her trust. But was a
joy to everyday to give her attention. Talk softly and whistled made clucking throaty noses. Even now when she is in a mood LOL she starts going around her cage picking with tail flared claiming her property I continue to talk to her scratch her head Etc. Also if she's been abuse no fist balling no beck hitting she's more than likely been there. use softer kinder voice with firm authority also if you need a foot stool to be taller than bird do so. If in the cage the bird is taller than you. It will give you no respect because it is in the dominant position.

Answer 6

now then,get yourself off down the joke shop and get either a trick finger or thumb,the type you use to hide a thin silk hanky in when doing tricks,get an old glove and cut off the finger or thumb depending on which you have,put the gloves on and also the fake thumb or finger over your own,once handling the bird let him have a hold of the finger/thumb with the fake over it.they are strong enough to withstand the bite as they plastic and once the bird has bitten at what he thinks is a thumb/finger for a fe days and didnt get a scream or a response he will soon tire of biting at it,i use this technique many times with large parakeets ie golden mantled rosellas etc and then when breeding them they were at the stage where i could actually put my hand down into the nesting boxes to check the young ones without getting bitten.they key to all problems is always perseverence.good luck.

Answer 7

This is a common nesting behavior of amazons. If the cage does not have a grate in the bottom, provide one for this bird, or try and find a aviary beddding and stop giving her newspaper. Aviary bedding should not be corn cob bedding or walnut shell bedding as these products will breed mold and fungus and could harm your bird. Do not provide your bird with a nest box either. This could promote egg laying and this could deplete your bird of calcium which could cause other health risks as well. It's better just to find a product made of pine that is in pellet form and make sure it don't promote a bacteria growth. Good luck and i hope this cleared up the shredding problem.

Answer 8

I've owned my YNA for 20 years. Don't give up, but be careful. Stick it out. Things will get better.

For the first 10 years, I swore there was no better pet than "Max". He talked constanly. He was affectionate. I let him perch on my shoulder and groom my eyelashes. ( I shudder to remember this.) At sexual maturity, he/she became dangerous. I was reduced to having my vet file down his beak a few times. Finally, after many injuries, I went to gloves, then gloves that went mostly up my arm (I felt bad about all of this but my vet reassured me. Do what you need to do to keep him in your family). I never stopped taking Max out of his cage every day.

At 20+ yrs, he is starting to calm down a bit. I still use the gloves to take him in/out of his cage. I tell him he must be on his perch before I open the cage door though, as in "Max, GO SIT DOWN". Otherwise, he'll lunge as I'm opening the door. Once he's out, I can (carefull, if he and I are in the mood) remove my glove and play/scratch him.

I will never give Max up or sell him. We're in it for the long haul. But a YNA is not a good pet for most people.

Answer 9

It does sound as if the bird was abused. All you can do is continue the stick training and have a great deal of patience.
NEVER let it near your face

Answer 10

Amazons have the emotions of a 2 year old child.when it is agressive you must chastise it.a light slap on the side is all you need to do,never hit it on the beak or head.Amazons love music esp opera,try playing music to it,talk to it everytime you pass the cage.Mine loves to be rubbed around his neck.When you are holding it if someone gets too close to you it will nip you to warn you,it is protecting you.Stick with it they are soooo worth the effort,mine warns if he is going to bite,he says ow ow ow first lol goodluck and love your bird